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March 5, 2011 |
| Scope of Practice |
HERE IS A LINK TO A PDF for a Release of Claim template. Traditional naturopaths must avoid using medical terminology and making medical claims, so it is important to clarify that in writing with all of your clients.
clients/3/3e/3eee267d89a6377ba053fe53c3e8b41a/File/RELEASE%20OF%20CLAIM%20AND%20TREATMENT%20AGREEMENT.pdf
American Naturopath's Association release:
NATUROPATHS work with their clients by taking thorough health history intakes and interviews, supplementing this information with a variety of non-invasive assessment methods such as iris analysis (used widely by medical doctors in Germany and Austria), reflex analysis, pulse assessment, external observations, soft tissue palpation, colon palpation, acupoint testing, energy assessments, and more. Some naturopaths employ other testing methods to determine ph balance, salivary enzymes, and strength testing. Just as physicians are free to work differently, so are naturopaths. You as a client may freely discuss with your naturopath how they work, what approaches they use, and how they intend to help you.
From this information they guide their clients in health recovery and wellness programs of all kinds, practicing within the scope of traditional , classical naturopathy. Visit our Famous Naturopaths page to learn about the ancestors of traditional naturopathy, their books, and life works. Their methods have stood the test of time and serve us today.
NATUROPATHS utilize, practice, and directly offer the following methods, modalities, and natural therapeutic applications to work with their clients to bring about health, healing, wellness and balance. We understand that only Nature heals- and so we are without claims to heal disease.
Nourishment and Food Therapeutics; Traditional /New Nourishment
Bodywork and Massage
Energy Medicine - Bodywork and Theoretical Practices
Movement Therapies
Consultation for Herbal Therapeutics
Administration and Skill in Herbal Pharmacy and Dispensary
Administration of Natural Therapeutics
Administration of Hydrotherapy
Education and Counseling in all Traditional Naturopathy practice
Compounding of Herbal Medicines and Therapeutics
Practice of Vibrational Medicine : Flower Essences, Homeopathy
PreNatal Massage and Post Natal natural therapeutics
Well Baby Visits
Wellness Development Consultations
Holistic Re-interpretations of Disease -based paradigms
Offering the therapeutic measures above, and within their expert practice, we help our clients with the opportunity to rebalance hormonal systems, strengthen body systems (Urinary, Respiratory, Digestive, Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Reproductive, Lymphatic, Integumentary (skin) and Nervous systems, in a gentle, monitored, guided manner intended to support the restoration of health, increase vitality, and support the potential of healing.
A generic example of a common case history illustrating our approach, which could involve the possible presence of uterine fibroids, endometriosis, along with additional symptoms of imbalance follows :
Jane Doe arrives for an appointment concerned about recurrent infections and specific reproductive cycle discomforts. She has received various different medical diagnoses, and she shares this information with her naturopath, although she is clear that her naturopath is not diagnosing disease. She is specifically seeking a non-medical perspective.
She completes our 7 page intake form, and then we spend comfortable time together exploring the various sections of the intake, along with her insights into a variety of symptoms. We also take into consideration her home and work environment, current and past stresses, current and past medical history, diet and exercise habits, and review a variety of symptoms and health indicators such as allergies, pain, restriction.
Naturopath Janet's job in this situation is help bring the body into balance, drawing upon her training in naturopathy- not to diagnose specific medical disease, nor to treat according to a medical codex.
Even so, Naturopath Janet's success rate in assisting clients in coming back into balance from such deteriorated conditions is very high, and that is why Jane Doe seeks her out. Naturopath Janet is well trained within her discipline, and has no need to 'order" x-rays, and no concerns that this client would need pharmaceutical drugs. Jane Doe does know she is quite free to seek that type of treatment out if she wishes to do so.
Jane shares at length the many avenues of treatment for this condition which have not helped her- her medications, any drugs, and other approaches she has tried, along with their measures of success and failure. Jane has suffered for a long time without relief. She is ready for a different approach.
Jane and Janet discuss additional factors which could affect the ability of the body to heal these conditions.
Naturopath Janet takes into consideration the length of time the clues and symptoms present, characteristics of symptoms, and other information which helps trained naturopaths form treatment plans from the patterns that emerge. This is is much the same way as other practitioners work.
Naturopath Janet suggests several changes in the choices Jane is making in her day to day life, including nourishment, and suggests, in her capacity as a trained herbalist, two herbal formulations (which she may offer from her own compounding herbal apothecary, knowing exactly the high quality of the formula) for a specific Dosage and Frequency, and counsels Jane Doe on the home use of these formulations.
Naturopath Janet may also administer one or more sessions of natural therapeutics, such as a castor oil pack, a hydrotherapy fomentation, or a bodywork therapy, to bring release, relief, and support to the condition Jane Doe has described. She also shows Jane, right there in the office, 2 exercises designed to bring release of energy and improved circulation to the pelvic area. Jane may learn from these sessions how to administer these treatments at home, for a specific period of time, allowing her to become empowered. She suggests a follow up appointment 3 weeks ahead to monitor and support the client in her progress. 3 weeks hence, Jane returns, feeling better, and at that time Janet adjusts her formulations, shows her additional movement therapies, inquires into many pertinent aspects of her day to day lifestyle choices, (nourishment, sleep habits, exercise) and instructs Jane in the subject of internal microbial balancing.
She encourages her to keep working within the healing plan. She administers another bodywork session, which helps Jane integrate this new level of information and support. Jane's infections are gone within 1 week, her periods are regular and pain free, and her pain is gone within 7 weeks.
Jane is relieved and amazed that this system offers so much, without the time consuming waste of referrals to many different departments for each different treatment. Naturopathy seems to her a simple, effective, and , yes, natural healing support system, and Janet impresses her as showing a well rounded and thorough level of holistic training and skill. Jane is relieved and glad to have this choice instead of being limited to only one.
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Samuel, the Scope of Practice does not say massage "therapy"- it says "massage and bodywork". MASSAGE THERAPY has come to be defined as a title with it's own "scope of practice", although it varies widely from state to state, despite 50 years of supposed grooming by associations.
Naturopaths use massage to bring about circulation and vitality, but they do NOT advertise themselves as "MASSAGE THERAPISTS", unless they also carry this title and training. Here is a link to a naturopathic school which offers BOTH in their training:
www.naturopathicschoolofannarbor.net.
If your state has licensure for massage therapy, you must look at how their scope is worded, and likely cease using the title massage therapy, and cease advertising yourself as a Massage Therapist (key word- therapist) until you have the proper credentials.